Monster Party

About the Author

Alison Lester and Jane Goodwin worked as non-Indigenous collaborators with the Children from Rawa Community School to create the book Monster Party. Located on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert at Punmu in the Pilbara Region of WA, Rawa is one of the most remote AISWA (Aboriginal Independent Schools WA) schools. In 2017, Alison Lester and Jane Godwin, celebrated Australian children s and YA authors, visited Rawa Community School as part of an AISWA initiated project. Jane Godwin worked with the students to create stories, real and imagined, around life in their community, and Alison Lester showed students how to produce a colourful array of illustrations using different mediums and colour palettes. Collectively they produced captivating stories that reflect the culture of the Punmu community and their shared love of storytelling.

Alison is one of Australia's most beloved children's authors. Alison grew up on a farm overlooking the sea and first rode a horse as a baby in her father's arms. She still lives in the country and rides her horse Woollyfoot, whenever she can. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special. Alison spends part of every year traveling to schools in remote areas, using her books to help children and adults write and draw about their own lives. Alison was Australia's Inaugural Children's Laureate from 2011 to 2013.

Jane is an Australian children's book publisher, and also the highly acclaimed author of over twenty books for children, across all styles and ages. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations, including the Queensland Premier's Award (Children's Books), the Aurealis Award and the Animal Welfare Award, and shortlistings in the CBC Book of the Year Awards, the Prime Minister s Literary Award, the New South Wales State Literary Award (Patricia Wrightson Prize) the YABBA Awards, the Speech Pathology Awards, The Family Award for Children s Books, and the Australian Book Industry Awards.